Disappointment and frustration were the only feelings that came to mind when registering for classes this year. December 1, the first day I could begin enrolling, remained the chaotic race and hunt for available classes it has been every year. As fourth-year students, we generally (and understandably) have high expectations that we can get into the classes we need to graduate. In prior semesters, those classes seemed to fill up days before we ever had the chance to enroll. This semester, we won’t even have the “opportunity” to be waitlisted for many of these classes – as they are not being offered this semester (and likely the next.) I realize Sacramento State University is not the on

The Sacramento City Unified School District board is considering a potential campus “swap” for two central city schools – a move that has stirred up a storm of criticism from parents, students and education advocates in the city. The proposed swap would move the West Campus High School program from its current 58th Street location to the old Sacramento High School facility and replace it with the Sacramento Charter High School program, which is currently at the old Sac High campus. Proponents of the swap say the move will allow the popular West Campus program to expand and will create an opportunity to establish a non-college preparatory high school program for students in central city n

     Photo essay by Dan ward Today on the Sacramento State campus two buildings were caught on fire. The first building was Mendocino hall. The building recorded the fire to start around 2:58pm. The fire took place on the 4th floor. Reports show that it started in a chair and the faculty and students were to be evacuated quickly. A professor and floor Marshall Matthew Mills helped a good majority of the students and faculty evacuate the premises while the fire engines arrived at the scene. There were no injuries however was student was caught in the fire but was quickly rescued. Shortly followed by the first fire another fire was broke out in Mariposa hall. The fire started from the int

Students and advisers from five Sacramento area high schools joined in a virtual rally Wednesday – with kids from Los Angeles, Fresno and Oakland schools – as part of the National Week of Action to raise awareness about the overuse of extreme school discipline. The rally connected more than 100 students, parents and community activists via live video feed to discuss recent trends in suspensions, expulsions and other harsh punishments in California schools. According to data from the California Department of Education, there were 235,033 students enrolled in public schools in Sacramento county in the 2010-11 school year. There were 47,678 suspensions and expulsions issued that same year

SACRAMENTO, CA -- The ESM Group announced today a partnership with the NBA’s Sacramento Kings for the inaugural Kings Leadership Academy. The Academy gives 11th and 12th grade students the opportunity to get an insiders’ perspective on how a sports business is run and to become an active participant in this unique process. It will run from August 8th - 12th at Kings Headquarters in Sacramento. “The Sacramento Kings have a long-standing history of giving back to the community and are excited to partner with The ESM Group for this unique opportunity” said Matina Kolokotronis, Kings President of Business Operations. This interactive academy will afford students the chance to work with other

The City Council authorized the transfer of $100,000 of the city’s transportation funds to help support the Robla Elementary Safe Schools Project at a City Council meeting Tuesday to ensure the safety of students using of pedestrian routes in the Robla Elementary District. The $100,000 is coming from the city’s transportation funding for the Major Streets Improvement project to complete the design phase of the project and cover staff costs. The Major Streets Improvement Project was implemented “to close gaps in the city’s circulation network, relieve congestion, improve safety and provide for the efficient movement of people, services, and goods,” according to a consent report from the c

By Henrietta Cisneros, freelance correspondent. June 2, 2011 12:00 p.m., PST Dirty Pool: SCTA Style Members of the Sacramento City Teachers Association (SCTA) and a faction of teachers at Hiram Johnson high school are waging a new kind of warfare. Children at Hiram Johnson High School and throughout the Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD) are being misguided and manipulated by a group of teachers and union bullies as a means of ousting seasoned principal, Felisberto Cedros. Conflict erupted on the Hiram Johnson campus between Cedros and a group of teachers shortly after he was appointed principal last year. Cedros implemented new policies at the school ranging from a dress c

School superintendents from across the state convened on the west steps of the Capitol on Monday to urge lawmakers to get tax extensions on the ballot in a June special election, which they said is necessary to avoid a $4.6 billion reduction in public school funding. Sacramento City Unified Superintendent Johnathan Raymond  said time has run out and that legislators need to get the tax extensions put on the ballot this week, since county clerks need 88 days to prepare for an election. “We are here because we represent children in California, and that, I think, is a point getting missed in our message,” said Raymond. “I look right in front of me and I see two yellow school buses. We all

Hundreds of teens from several regional high schools staged a “Peace Rally” on Friday inside the City Council Chambers to bring attention to rising gang violence and an increase in teen crime victims. Hosted by the Sacramento Youth Commission, the rally culminated a week of peace-related activities on various campuses throughout Sacramento. Some of the schools had assemblies and some held a “Challenge Day” where students tried to make new friends between various cliques on campus, explained Lyndsy Gholson, staff assistant with the Sacramento Youth Commission. “Students thought it was time for change … There's a lot going on in terms of gang-affiliated violence. There's youth violence. Th

The rain didn't stop an estimated 13,000 college students and faculty from marching on the State Capitol Monday to demand legislators work out their differences and put tax extensions on the ballot, which educators have said would make next year's cuts more bearable. Students were bused from all over the state to the Towe Auto Museum, where the march officially began. Called the “March in March,” Monday's protest was the fourth year in a row that the same group came out to the Capitol in such large numbers. As it stands now, Gov. Jerry Brown's proposed budget for fiscal year 2011 assesses a $1.4 billion cut to higher education, including $500 million to University of California schools a

It’s afterschool at Grant Union High School and the crowd goes wild! No it is not Grant’s Friday night football game and no the crowd is not at Grant’s football field either. Just before the thanksgiving break Grant’s auditorium is packed with not just any students of Grant but the Hmong students of Grant and their family, friends and other Hmong within the community.   In celebrations to Hmong New Year, Grant’s Hmong Club hosted their 4th annual Hmong New Year event which was opened to the community at Grant’s soccer field and in the auditorium Nov. 17. Grant Union High School is well-known for their football team, but what you may not realize is that Grant is a really diverse public

The Sacramento Regional Builders Exchange -the region's oldest and largest building industry related association - awarded scholarships to seven students enrolled in the Construction Management Programs at Sacramento and Chico State this week.  These students represent some of the brightest and most committed students in their programs and will make outstanding additions to the construction workforce.    The students were awarded scholarships after a process which involved written applications and oral interviews before a panel of industry experts.  These experts included representatives from: local general and subcontractors, architects, engineers, suppliers, and other industry related p

Teaching and Learning Priority School Professional Development: Staffs of the six Superintendent’s Priority Schools gathered at the Serna Center this week for training with Rochelle Herring-Peniston, president of Transformation By Design. Faculty learned the use of Data Wise inquiry protocols, which assist in analyzing student work, and learned how to identify learning goals and teacher learning needs. The sessions used the teachings of Harvard researchers such as Kathryn Boudette, Richard Elmore and Brent Stephens as well as the work of Nancy Love, Linda Darling-Hammond and Walter Doyle. Every Day Counts: Charlotte Chadwick, principal at John Bidwell School, is throwing down the gauntl

SACRAMENTO, CA (Sept 11) – The publishing world always seeks new, young authors, songwriters, poets and journalists. On Sept 11, young writers, in grades 6-12, from throughout Sacramento, surrounding counties and potentially the bay area (if they’d like to make the drive) will gather with published authors, book industry professionals, and university professors at an innovative workshop specifically designed to help young writers fulfill their dreams and launch their careers.     Capitol City Young Writers Writers “Meet the Author” workshop takes place Saturday, September 11 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at The Sacramento Bee’s small auditorium, 2131 Q St., in Sacramento, CA. Aspiring young write

The all-girl robotics team of St. Francis High School, the Fembots, competed at the high school level in a robotics international championship April 15-17. It was the only team from Sacramento in the competition this year. The championship was held in Atlanta, Ga., by the organization For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST). The Fembots received the Engineering Inspiration Award at the Sacramento regional competition held at University of California, Davis, March 31-April 1. The award qualified them to compete at the championship where they placed 71st in their division. "It's a lot of hard work and takes a lot of time," freshman Lana Myerson said. "But it reall

 150-Mile Non-Stop Education Run Culminates on State Capitol Steps Students, parents, teachers and supporters who ran a 150-mile non-stop day-and-night relay from San Carlos to Sacramento to invite lawmakers to spend a day in a public school finished their journey yesterday, Monday, May 17, with a rally on the steps of the California State Capitol Building.  Event participants included Assemblymember Ira Ruskin, State Senator Gloria Romero, and Assemblymember Tom Torlakson; the latter two are candidates for California Superintendent of Public Instruction.  Following the rally, the group fanned out to deliver their invitation letters to the state’s lawmakers.  Participants in the “Spend 1

With family and friends in attendance, 40 aspiring high school filmmakers debuted their documentary shorts at the second annual Documentary Foundation Film Festival Sunday. The Sacramento student filmmakers covered a multitude of issues including racism in high school, legalization of marijuana, pink-slipped teachers and prisoner work programs in Folsom Prison. The program is taught by Sacramento native documentary filmmakers Keith Ochwat and Christopher Rufo and sponsored by KVIE. The duo created the Documentary Foundation student program as a means to inspire future generations of documentary filmmakers. "There are so many issues that affect peoples' lives," Ochwat said. He spoke of th

 150-Mile Citizen Run to Invite Calif. Lawmakers to Schools Culminates in Sacramento May 17   Students, teachers, parents and supporters who are running a 150-mile relay day and night to Sacramento to invite state lawmakers to spend a day in a public school will finish their journey with a rally at 12 p.m., Monday, May 17, at the California State Capitol Building.  The runners are carrying letters written by the youngsters, who are asking that politicians visit a school for a day to see the impact of their spending choices on education.  Speakers at the rally will include Don Shalvey, senior program officer with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Assemblymember and candidate for State

Students and faculty discussed the state of Sacramento's local governance today at the Sacramento State University Union. The event was a panel discussion led by three Sacramento State professors: Communications Professor Barbara O’Connor, Professor Tim Hodson from the Center for California Studies, and Public Policy Professor Ted Lascher. The discussion focused on the historical context and rationale for updating the city charter, which dates back 80 years. Professors O’Connor and Hodson opened the discussion by explaining Sacramento’s roots as a progressive city that emphasized a “collegial” form of government. But as the city grows, O’Connor explained, this system becomes harder. “In

 To commemorate Harvey Milk Day, on his birthday, May 22, 2010 Equality Action Now will host a fun and historic Rally and March on the West steps of the State Capitol. Invited guests include adult and youth speakers from the community as well as entertainment. Highlighting the entertainment will be the cast of Broadway’s hit, A Chorus Line. The road tour of A Chorus Line will be playing at the Sacramento Community Theatre May 19-23. According to their tour manager the cast will perform their matinee show then head over to the Capitol to perform a musical number from A Chorus Line, “What I Did For Love”. A Chorus Line, one of the most recognized Broadway musicals, won nine Tony Awards, in